2008 Texas vs. Oklahoma football game

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=103rd Red River Shootout
Date=October 11, 2008
Year=2008
Visitor School=University of Texas at Austin
Visitor Name Short=Texas
Visitor Nickname=Longhorns
Visitor Record=5-0
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=5
Visitor BCS=
Visitor Coach=Mack Brown
Visitor1=3
Visitor2=17
Visitor3=10
Visitor4=15
Visitor Total=45
Home School=University of Oklahoma
Home Name Short=Oklahoma
Home Nickname=Sooners
Home Record=5-0
Home

Home Coaches=1
Home BCS=
Home Coach=Bob Stoops
Home1=7
Home2=14
Home3=7
Home4=7
Home Total=35
Type=c
Stadium=Cotton Bowl
City=Dallas, Texas


Odds=Oklahoma by 6 1/2
US Network=ABC NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2008
Team=Texas Longhorns

---

ImageSize=130
Conference=Big 12 Conference
Division=South
ShortConference=Big 12
CoachRank=5
APRank=5
BCSRank=
Record=6-0
ConfRecord=2-0
HeadCoach=Mack Brown
OffCoach= Greg Davis
DefCoach= Will Muschamp
OScheme= Spread Option
DScheme= 4-3
StadiumArena=Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Champion=
BowlTourney=
BowlTourneyResult= NCAATeamFootballSeason
Year=2008
Team=Oklahoma Sooners


Conference=Big 12 Conference
Division=South
ShortConference=Big 12
CoachRank= 1
APRank= 1
BCSRank=
Record= 5-1
ConfRecord= 1-1
HeadCoach=Bob Stoops
OffCoach= Kevin Wilson
DefCoach= Brent Venables
StadiumArena=Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Champion=
BowlTourney=
BowlTourneyResult= The 2008 Texas vs. Oklahoma football game, played October 11, 2008, was the 103rd meeting between the University of Oklahoma and The University of Texas at Austin in a college football game. The annual game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners is called the Red River Shootout. It is considered by college football coaches to be one of the three greatest rivalry games in college football, and "Fox Sports" says the rivalry includes some of the most unusual traditions in the sport.cite news | url=http://community.foxsports.com/blogs/gcoach/2006/10/02/College_Football_Rivalries_Red_River_Shootout | title=College Football Rivalries - Red River Shootout | date=October 2, 2006 | publisher=Fox Sports | accessdate=2007-04-19] The game often has conference or national title significance and the series is unusual in that it is played at a neutral site instead of the home teams' stadium.

The 2008 Texas Longhorn football team (variously "Texas" or "UT" or the "Horns") was coached by head football coach Mack Brown and led on the field by quarterback Colt McCoy. The 2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team (variously "Oklahoma" or "OU") was coached by Bob Stoops with Sam Bradford at quarterback. This was the sixth game of the 2008 season for both teams. Texas came into the game with a 5–0 record and a number 5 ranking. Oklahoma was also 5–and ranked number one. Both teams were 1-0 in conference play. Since the two teams are both in the South Division of the Big 12 Conference, winning this game would be an important step towards winning the Division and possibly the Conference. For either team, a loss would likely eliminate hope of them playing in the BCS National Championship Game.

Prior to the game, Oklahoma was favored by 6 1/2 points. Texas won the game, 45–35. It was the highest scoring event in the history of the rivalry, and it was seen by the most fans - a record 92,182.

The Red River Shootout

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are two of the most storied programs in college football. [cite news | url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=globe&page=cfoot/scores/live/pv14170.htm | title= (7) Texas (4-1) vs. (14) Oklahoma (3-1) | date=October 7, 2005 | accessdate=2007-04-17] [cite web | url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/okla-texas.html | title=OU-Texas Weekend | work= SoonerSports.com |publisher=University of Oklahoma Athletic Department | accessdate=2007-08-21] [cite web | url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=schlabach_mark&id=2537618 | title=Bomar's dismissal levels Big 12 playing field | date=August 9, 2006 | accessdate=2007-04-17] [cite news | url=http://www.tickco.com/sports/NCAA_Football/ohio_state_football_tickets.htm | title=Ohio State Football Tickets | publisher=TickCo | accessdate=2007-04-12] [cite news | url=http://friends.macjournals.com/mattd/bcswins2002 | title=The BCS wins after all | publisher=Life and Deatherage | accessdate=2007-04-12] cite news | url=http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2005/09/07/Sports/Top-5.Teams.Prepare.For.Primetime-977296.shtml | title=Top 5 teams prepare for primetime | publisher=The Daily Texan | date=September 5, 2005 | accessdate=2007-04-12] cite news | url=http://ohiostatebuckeyes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/090505aaa.html | title=Buckeyes Welcome Texas to Ohio Stadium | publisher=Ohio State University | date=September 5, 2005 | accessdate=2007-04-13] [cite news | url=http://www.tickco.com/sports/NCAA_Football/ohio_state_football_tickets.htm | title=Ohio State Football Tickets | publisher=TickCo | accessdate=2007-04-12] Prior to 2005 each school had participated in college football for more than 100 years. They are home to nationally-known traditions from the Sooner Schooner and the RUF/NEKS at Oklahoma to Bevo and the Hook 'em Horns of Texas.cite news | title=Traditions: Texas-Oklahoma | url=http://msn.foxsports.com/story?contentId=3062152&print=true | publisher=Fox Sports | accessdate=2007-04-17] The annual OU/UT football game is considered to be one of the greatest rivalry games in all of college sports.cite news | url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/stories/100705dnspofbwnewrivalrylede.1c8619ce.html | title=UT-OU : Best Rivalry? | work=Dallas Morning News | author=Davis, Brian | date=2005-10-07 | accessdate=2006-07-11]

The 2008 matchup was officially called the Red River Rivalry,cite web | url=http://www.sbc.com/gen/press-room?pid=4800&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=21762 | title=SBC Companies Extend Sponsorship with Universities of Oklahoma and Texas for the SBC Red River Rivalry | work=ATT.com | accessdate=2006-07-11] but the game is better known by its traditional name, the Red River Shootout.cite news | url=http://www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2004/11/02/Opinioneditorials/From-The.Daily.Adhering.To.Tradition-1426377.shtml?norewrite200607111727&sourcedomain=www.michigandaily.com | title=From the Daily:Adhering to tradition - SBC Sponsor Threatened Game's Integrity | publisher=The Michigan Daily | date=2006-07-10 | accessdate=2006-07-11] cite news | url=http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:LDb5NWX9aLcJ:www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3305696+JOSEPH+DUARTE+Chronicle+%22political+correctness%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a | title=Defense's goal is 13 points or less | publisher=Houston Chronicle | date=2005-08-11 | accessdate=2006-07-11] It is played at a neutral site, the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas, Texas, amid the atmosphere of the Texas State Fair which is held adjacent to the Cotton Bowl.cite web | url=http://www.newsrecord.org/media/storage/paper693/news/2003/11/19/Sports/Column.Rivalries.Spark.College.Football-693841.shtml?norewrite200606152025&sourcedomain=www.newsrecord.org | title=Column: Rivalries spark college football |work=The News Record | publisher=University of Cincinnati | accessdate=2006-06-15] Dallas is approximately half the distance between the two school campuses, and the stadium is divided down the 50-yard line, with half of the stadium clad in the "crimson and cream" colors of Oklahoma, and the other half wearing the burnt orange and white of Texas.cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/doc_lib/2005_Oklahoma_notes.pdf | format = PDF | title=Game Week | publisher=MackBrownTexasFootball | accessdate=2006-12-14] Three rivalry trophies are presented to the winning of each year's contest.cite web |url=http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v?TARGET=printable&article_id=3f84da355f862 |title=To the victor goes the trophy - OU and Texas will vie for the right to take the trophy home | work = OUDaily.com | accessdate = 2006-06-15 ] The anticipation for the 2005 meeting was especially keen since it marked the 100th Red River Shootout.cite news | url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/redrivershootout/texas/vitindex.html | title=Red River Rivalry:Texas | work=Dallas Morning News | date=October 8, 2005 | accessdate=2006-07-30]

The game typically has conference or even national significance. From 1945 through 2004, one or both of the two teams has been ranked among the top 25 teams in the nation coming into 60 out of 65 games. Prior to the 2005 game, Texas held an advantage in the all-time series 55-39-5, which included a 43-35-4 edge in Dallas, but Oklahoma had won 5 consecutive games, including the worst loss ever for a Texas team in the series.cite web | url=http://soonerstats.com/football/series/details.cfm?OppID=7 | title=OU-Texas Football Series |publisher=SoonerStats.com| accessdate=2006-07-30] That was the longest losing streak for the Longhorns going back to the 1950s and during those five years the Sooners 189 points to 59 points by UT.cite news | title=Texas Defeats Oklahoma at Cotton Bowl | url= http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/100805aaa.html|publisher=Associated Press | format=reprint| date=2005-10-08 | accessdate=2007-08-22] Those five straight losses had helped build a reputation for Mack Brown that he was not capable of winning in so-called "Big Games".cite news | url=http://www.buckeyextra.com/?story=132929 | title=Transcript of Mack Brown's postgame news conference | publisher=BuckeyeXtra.com | date=September 11, 2005 | accessdate=2007-01-17] cite news | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2005-09-09-whiteside_x.htm | title=Wuerffel says Katrina will not destroy ministry | publisher=USA Today | author=Whiteside, Kelly | date=September 9, 2005 | accessdate=2007-01-17] cite news | url=http://www.coversexperts.com/includes/article_ce.aspx?ce=20087&ur=6367 | title=The Great Coaching Debate | author=Sevransky, Ted | publisher=Covers.experts | accessdate=2007-01-17] cite news | url=http://media.www.michigandaily.com/media/storage/paper851/news/2005/10/13/Sports/Longhorns.Road.To.The.Rose.Bowl.Is.Clear-1432097.shtml?sourcedomain=www.michigandaily.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com | title=Longhorns' road to the Rose Bowl is clear | authors=Geise, John & Kia Hamadanch | publisher=The Michigan Daily | date=October 13, 2005 | accessdate=2007-01-17] cite news | url=http://sportsbytes.net/article.asp?articleid=75234 | title=Coach Catharsis | author=Flint, Ross | publisher=TOTK.com | date=January 5, 2006 | accessdate=2007-01-17] Four times during those five years, Texas' loss to Oklahoma was what prevented them from playing in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game.cite news | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/columnist/weekendforecast/2005-10-05-column_x.htm | title=Full plate of Big 12, SEC showdowns worth feasting on | publisher=USA Today | author=Smith, Erick | date=October 5, 2005 |accessdate=2007-01-17]

Prior to the game

Oklahoma is one of the most successful programs in the modern era of college football. OU has the most victories and best winning percentage of any team since the end of World War II. The Sooners have earned seven AP National Championships (1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000) in that span and are recognized by the NCAA for 16 titles. They have been ranked #1 in the AP and BCS polls more than any other team, have been ranked in the top 5 of the AP and BCS polls more than any other team, and have scored more points than any other team in the modern era.cite news | url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/m-footbl-no1-program-modern-era.html | title=Sooners the No. 1 Program of the Modern Era| date= 2007-11-12 | work=SoonerSports.com |publisher=University of Oklahoma Athletic Department | accessdate=2007-11-12] cite news | url=http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/100505aaa.html | title=Sooner Gameday Central - Texas | date= 2005-10-01 | work=SoonerSports.com |publisher=University of Oklahoma Athletic Department | accessdate=2007-08-21] Naturally, Oklahoma had high expectations for the year. Their pre-season ranking of number four in the nation and the fact they had made it to the national championship game in both 2003 and 2004 only served to support this assumption.

One of the top-three teams in the all-time list of both total wins and winning percentage.,cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/doc_lib/usatoday.com_%20brown_has_texas_savoring_possibilities.pdf | format = PDF | title=Brown has Texas savoring the possibilities | publisher=USA Today | author = Wieberg, Steve | date=December 2, 2005 | accessdate=2006-06-27] the University of Texas has traditionally been considered among the elite of college football.cite web | url=http://www.ncaaticketsnow.com/texas-tickets.asp | title=2004-2005 NCAA football tickets | accessdate=2006-06-27] cite news |publisher=The Daily Tarheel | author=Fitt, Aaron | url=http://www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2002/09/14/Sportsaturday/Its-Not.About.Mack-1349746.shtml?norewrite200606280132&sourcedomain=www.dailytarheel.com | title=It's not about Mack] From 1936 to 2004, the team finished the season in the top ten 23 times, or one-third of the time, according to the Associated Press. The 2005 national championship team that coach Mack Brown fielded in 2005 has been called one of the most memorable in college football history by "College Football News".cite news | author=Fiutak, Pete | url=http://www.collegefootballnews.com/Almanac/CFN_Formula/CFN_FormulaAllTime.htm |title=Formula and Calculations for All-Time Greatest Football Teams | publisher=College Football News | accessdate=2006-06-27]

The 2007 game was a back-and-forth affair that was ultimately won by Oklahoma 28–21. OU's freshman quarterback, Sam Bradford, was 21–of–32 for 244 yards and 3 touchdowns. UT's McCoy was 19–of–26 for 324 yards and two touchdowns. That was the most passing yardage against an Oklahoma team since the 2004 National Championship game vs. USC. [cite news | url=http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/10/12/1012askbeatwriters.html | title=Ask the beat writers: Questions on the Longhorn secondary, linebackers and Vondrell McGee | author=Halliburton, Suzanne | work=Austin American-Statesman | publisher=Cox Enterprises | date=October 112007|accessdate=2007-11-12] The Longhorns committed two costly turnovers. McCoy threw one interception and Jamaal Charles lost a fumble inside the Oklahoma 5 yard-line on what would otherwise have been a touchdown scoring run.cite news | url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=272790251 | title=Bradford's steady play steers Sooners past Horns | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=October 62007 | accessdate=2007-10-06] For the second straight week, the Texas defense did not cause any turnovers.cite news | url=http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sports/stories/longhorns/10/07/1007texnotes.html | title=Comings and goings at end | work=Austin American-Statesman | publisher=Cox Enterprises | date=October 72007|accessdate=2007-10-07] With the loss, Texas opened conference play 0–2 for the first time since 1956, when they were in the Southwest Conference and one year before Darrell Royal became head coach of the Longhorns.

Texas entered the 2008 season ranked number 11 in the AP Pollcite web | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankings?pollId=1 | title=2008 NCAA Football Rankings - Preseason | date=2008-08-16 | accessdate=2008-08-16 | publisher=AP] and number 10 in the Coaches Poll.cite web | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankings?pollId=2&weekNumber=1&seasonYear=2008 | title=2008 NCAA Football Rankings - Preseason | date=2008-08-01 | accessdate=2008-08-01 | publisher=USA Today] They won their first four games to rise to number 5 in the national rankings. Texas began Big 12 Conference play on October 42008 with a trip to Boulder, Colorado and a win over the Colorado Buffaloes.

For either team to play in the national title game, that team had to end up ranked No. 1 or No. 2 at the end of the regular season. Since 1998 (the year the Bowl Championship Series was formed) through 2004, 9 of the 14 teams were unbeaten going into the championship game.cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14687967 | title=Ohio State, Texas put BCS hopes on line - Nos. 1-, 2-ranked teams can't afford loss in big matchup Saturday | author=Associated Press | publisher=MSNBC | date=September 8, 2006 | accessdate=2006-09-08] The only time the national champion has not been unbeaten during that stretch was in 2003 when LSU and USC claimed a share of the title as each finished with one loss.cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14687408/ | title=Ohio St-Texas Preview | publisher=MSNBC | author=Einhorn, Justin | date=September 7, 2006 | accessdate=2006-09-07] As Ohio State tackle Kirk Barton once said "There’ll probably be two undefeated teams at the end of the road and if you’re not one of them you’re probably not going to be playing for the championship. So you’ve got to treat every game like it’s the Super Bowl. You only get one opportunity."cite news | url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14687967 | title=Ohio State, Texas put BCS hopes on line - Nos. 1-, 2-ranked teams can't afford loss in big matchup Saturday | author=Associated Press | publisher=MSNBC | date=September 8, 2006 | accessdate=2006-09-08]

Prior to the game, Oklahoma was favored by 6 1/2 points.cite news | url=http://www.vegas.com/gaming/sportsline_ncaaf.html | title=Gambling - NCAA football | work=Vegas.com | publisher=Vegas.com, LLC | date=October 11 2008 | accessdate=2008-10-11] The weather forecast called for a game-time temperature of convert|84|°F|°C. [cite news | urlhttp://www.weather.com/weather/hourbyhour/USTX0327?from=36hr_topnav_undeclared | title=Hour-by-Hour Forecast for Dallas, TX| date=October 112008 | work=Weather.com | accessdate=2008-10-11]

see|2008 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings}

First quarter

Texas won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. Oklahoma scored a touchdown on their first possession. Texas was able to answer with a field goal to make the score Texas-3, Oklahoma-7. OU and UT traded punts and there were no other scores in the first quarter. Prior to the game against Texas, Oklahoma had outscored their opponents by a total of 103 to 3.

econd Quarter

The first quarter ended with Oklahoma in possession of the football. They completed that drive in the second quarter with a touchdown, extending their lead to eleven points. On the ensuing kick off, UT's Jordan Shipley fielded the ball at the four-yard line and took the ball 96-yards for a touchdown. The play has been nominated as an AT&T Play of the Week.

Bradford threw a pass for another OU touchdown, and UT answered with a rushing touchdown. On OU's next possession, Bradford threw his first of two interceptions for the day. As a result, UT was able to score a field goal as time expired in the first half. OU took a one-point lead into half time.

Third Quarter

Texas got the ball to start the second half, but were forced to punt. Bradford threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game, to extend the OU lead to eight points. Texas answered with McCoy's only touchdown pass of the game. OU ended their next drive with an unsuccessful attempt at a fourth down conversion. Texas kicked a field goal to take a two-point lead. It was their first lead of the day, and the first time for Oklahoma to trial an opponent all season. Oklahoma scored a touchdown to take a five-point lead.

Fourth Quarter

In the fourth quarter, Texas answered to regain the lead, then forced Oklahoma to punt. Texas scored again with 2:30 left in the game, creating a 10-point lead that resulted in the final score. Texas won the game, 45–35.cite news | url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/drivechart?gameId=282850201 | title={5} Texas 45 - {1) Oklahoma 35 - Drive Chart | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=October 112008 | accessdate=2008-10-11] It was the highest scoring event in the history of the rivalry, and it was seen by the most fans - a record 92,182.cite news | url=http://sports-ak.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282850201 | title={5} Texas 45 - {1) Oklahoma 35 - Texas builds on second-half momentum to drop Oklahoma | work=ESPN.com | publisher=The Disney Company | date=October 112008 | accessdate=2008-10-11]

Analysis

As a result of the loss, Oklahoma's record changed to 40-57-5 all-time in the Red River Rivalry, [cite news | url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=36&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=298&change_well_id=2 | title=All-time records vs opponents | work=MackBrownTexasFootball | date=October 11, 2008 | accessdate=2008-10-11] while Bob Stoops’ is 6-4 against the Longhorns.

After the game

Texas will face the number-three ranked Missouri Tigers on October 18, 2008. After Missouri, 3 of their 4 remaining opponents are also ranked (#17 Oklahoma State, at #7 Texas, # 11 Kansas).

Notes and references

Further reading

*"Longhorns' Perfect Drive: Texas' 2005 National Championship Season" Sports Publishing (January 15, 2006) ISBN 1-596701-16-1
*"Sports Illustrated CFB Texas" # Time Inc. Magazine Company (January 9, 2005) ISBN 1-580607-62-4
*"Sports Illustrated College Football Championship Commemorative Issue 2006" The Time Inc. Magazine Company (January 6, 2006) ISBN 1-580607-58-6
*"Texas Pride: Longhorn Glory Shines Through an Unforgettable Championship Season" Triumph Books (January 31, 2006) ISBN 1-572438-76-2

External links

*cite web |url=http://www.mackbrown-texasfootball.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=40&url_subchannel_id=&url_article_id=1959&change_well_id=2 | title=Official website of UT football | accessdate=2008-10-11
*cite web | url=http://www.soonersports.com/ | title=Official website of Oklahoma Sooners athletics | accessdate=2008-10-11